Private Prisons in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A private prison company that houses more than 2,000 Oklahoma inmates says that, if it gets a contract it is seeking with federal prison officials, the state could have to find new homes for its prisoners.

Corrections Corp. of America has offered to house federal inmates in two facilities now being used for Oklahoma prisoners, at Cushing and Holdenville, and a third unit at Watonga owned by CCA but closed down in the spring. CCA also operates a fourth unit at Sayre that is apparently not involved in the company's proposal to federal officials.

State Corrections Department director Justin Jones said the situation is not surprising, since the federal Bureau of Prisons pays more to house its inmates than the state of Oklahoma does.